Insurance Underwriters pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,150 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in San Jose earn between $77,770 and $95,830.
- $78K10th
- $78K25th
- $96KMedian
- $96K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,220 | $7,852 | $45.30 |
| Median | $95,830 | $7,986 | $46.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,770 | $6,481 | $37.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,830 | $7,986 | $46.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in San Jose earn 8% less than the California average ($102,850) and about the same as the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $94,220 | $95,830 | $77,770 | $121,150 | n/a |
| California | $102,850 | $95,320 | $65,070 | $162,640 | 6,580 |
| United States | $93,700 | $81,370 | $55,530 | $145,160 | 105,420 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Insurance Underwriters salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $94,220, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $70,443 a year, or $5,870 a month and $2,709 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $94,220 buys what about $85,326 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 17.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 7th of 8 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($105,860).
- San Francisco$105,860
- Fresno$104,650
- Los Angeles$104,220
- Sacramento$103,210
- San Diego$102,940
- Oxnard$96,350
- San Jose$94,220
- Riverside$94,060
Highest-paying cities for insurance underwriters
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,970).
- Bridgeport, CT$127,970
- Boston, MA$115,600
- Denver, CO$115,260
- Seattle, WA$114,200
- Manchester, NH$112,530
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Insurance Underwriters salary in San Jose: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in San Jose?
$45.30 an hour on average, and $46.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in San Jose?
About $70,443 a year ($5,870 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($93,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2053; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
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